⇨ WISMUTH ENDGAME

[ringleaders]

Who: Everyone!
When: Evening Day 27
Where: The Wismuth Super Dome, Round 2
What: On the verge of creating a world ending army of Harbingers, CY-Ren and her followers are challenged by the carnival and the Star Guardian team. It's time to stop.
Warnings: Singing

THE LAST REQUIEM↴ CY-Ren's planning of a charity concert has been well received - news of bomb threats and harassment from fans have painted her as a victim in the media spotlight, and her generous attempt to make amends is getting plenty of attention. She's been busy spinning things for as much focus as possible, and the threat of potential danger has the news focusing in on the proceedings. The date is set for Day 27 in carnival time. You won't want to miss it! ► BUILD UP: In the last couple days before the concert, CY-Ren will be reaching out to all of her Harbingers, regardless of where they might be at the time - yes, this means that even if you ran off, she'll come to find you! (Unless you're in the carnival like Taako, then you're fucked.) She'll tell you that her plans are coming to head, and that if you help her with one last task then the planet will be on its way to destruction. There are multiple ways you can aid her: you can help amp up her performance as evil backup singers/musicians, or you can set yourself up around the perimeter at specified locations, using your sparks as a beacon to her magic. She's certain that she's perfected her musical formula, this time - when the concert gets underway, all those present with the capacity to be a Harbinger will awaken, and the end of days will begin. ► THE CONCERT: By the time the concert arrives, the Star Guardians will have the idea that there's something unnatural about the way the new Harbingers were made - this isn't how it usually happens, and that sets them apart from someone like CY-Ren. Maybe that means that they can be pulled away with less drastic measures as well, given that the Void didn't have the full right to their souls in the first place. Anyone coming to help (and those who aren't Star Guardians will be encouraged to come as well, given that if they are making attempts at friendship, super powers aren't required) will gather in the area early, determined to stomp this one out before it can get too far. ► HARBINGERS: This is when they will be encountered by Harbingers guarding the perimeter, as well as a small army of void creatures defending CY-Ren's last performance. Star Guardians will become aware through the power of Creation that the Harbingers on the perimeter must be neutralized in order to disrupt the concert - CY-Ren is feeding on their negative energies, and it will make it too dangerous to attack her directly. Confrontations with any Harbingers can be worked out on an individual basis via plotting - just make up a location around the concert and have your Harbinger providing a beacon of their own design. As the concert ramps up, however, the excess of Void energy will cause the newly made Harbingers to destabilize - mentally or magically, their powers will be harder to control, and their negative emotions will be running wild. However, with that instability, there is also room for a breakthrough - for someone to blast the darkness from their Sparks with friendship and light. Now is the time to reach out. ► STAR GUARDIANS: If a Harbinger is successfully turned away from the darkness, they will briefly regain control of their Sparks, and be able to manifest as a Star Guardian for the first time. This will allow the Guardians to outnumber CY-Ren's forces. Their look and powers will still be based around the same Spark, but purified by Creation and aimed towards positive things. Time to win. ► DANCE OFF: Given that the Spark of Music and the Spark of Dance are colliding, it is perhaps not a surprise that this all manifests as a big ass musical number. As CY-Ren and Noa have a music battle, everyone present (even if you aren't a Star Guardian) will find themselves magically inspired to join in. You can dance, sing, or anything in between - the more people who support Noa's side, the stronger she will be. There will be a megathread for this part of the conflict, and at this point any unturned Harbingers will awaken and be able to turn their Sparks towards the light. As CY-Ren begins to lose power, what the players do with her will be up to you.

Comments

[bananaspeedrider]

[Lots of memories can be considered happy if looked upon in fond hindsight. Clear Wing soundlessly takes the hit when the snake strikes at them, but it's starting to become almost clear that Yuya's merely trying to draw out his turn as long as possible. But the state of the duel isn't what Yugo's thoughts are clinging to right now.]

Don't give up...? You...! You don't know what it was like in there! The Void showed me the truth, so I'll...!!

"Well, not knowing when to quit IS your greatest strength."

[It makes him pause and Clear Wing seems to call out in recognition of the words as well. That was how he would win. Or at least go down fighting to the bitter end. His heart is tight in his chest and he almost tries to swallow back the bright plasma wisping out from his choked throat]

[hippocarnival]

[In any other instance, Yuya would be looking more critically at why Clear Wing doesn't go down with the second hit. But the duel was just to buy time, anyway, so he barely pays attention in favor of Yugo himself. What Yugo says brushes up against him poorly and he bristles.]

You're going to tell me I don't know what it's like?! To think there's nothing worth it? To be so full of hate that I'd want to make it all end?

[Yuya clenches his fist, indignation burning the rest of his emotions and for a moment he forgets that the point of this all isn't just to prove himself right, it's to bring Yugo back around from the Void. Still, though, it stings--it's something no one else would believe he understands, and Yugo's one of the few people he can say it openly to.

Yuya breathes and exhales a deep breath, slowly forcing his shoulders to stop shaking.] You said she betrayed you because she couldn't fight those parasites, but I don't believe that at all! I don't think you really believe that. If you want to prove me wrong, then face all those memories of her and tell me you don't care!

[hurtcomfort]

[ Cole takes a few more steps closer to Yugo. By now, he's within two or so feet of the other man. That should be close enough, right? Hopefully. He's thinking about her, at least. That's good. ]

Look, [ Cole simply says, as he tries to get Yugo's attention.

Opening the photo album, he holds it out and shows it to Yugo. The page lingers on that picture of Rin as Cole desperately starts hoping that Yuya's right and this would help. ]

[bananaspeedrider]

[He wants to be annoyed and irritated once Cole calls out to him again. But Yugo ends up turning his initially furious gaze at the opened memory album and might've shifted it away again if not for that unfamiliar photo of Rin and the context.

She does look scared. Stuck in a tube at the professor's mercy... of which there was none. Why wasn't he THERE? How could he leave her to that horrible...?]

I... I did have it as my contract to save them didn't I? And another to protect her. I've always been thinking about Rin whenever I make these.

[His Harbringer helmet works well enough at shading his eyes from view, but the same can't be said for tears when they start to fall and drip down his face. The teen clenches his fists, however it's not bottomless despair that his emotions are spiraling back into.

No, instead there's something still worth fighting the darkness again, isn't there?]

[hippocarnival]

That's right, Yugo! [He gestures to Cole and the book.] You have to see them through! There's only no point if you give up, but there's so much waiting for you if you don't! Rin, your home, the rest of the friends you've made. We're all still here!

[Whatever betrayal Yugo thinks that's happened, it isn't true. He still has friends who want to help him.]

[hurtcomfort]

[ This isn't his fight. Cole knows that much: he doesn't know Rin, he only knows glimpses of what really went on with Yugo, Yuya, and Rin, he doesn't know what's best to say. All he can do is help remind Yugo.

Cole's still holding the book as the memory of Rin continues to play in the background. ]

She'll be sad if you're gone, [ Cole simply says. ] I don't think you want that.

[bananaspeedrider]

[Clear Wing slowly turns their head toward Yugo and he can guess what most likely would be on the prideful dragon's mind after all this.]

Yeah, now you remember too, don't you Clear Wing?

[Together they could win against anything, as long as they had each other and the bonds they've made. Yuya is right and they're all the stronger for it! Closer the dragon hovers until Yugo uses his pale-skinned hand to grasp onto their giant claw.]

So what are we waiting for...?!

[And upon the Synchro dragon's roar of response, the darkness lifts and in its place is light and wind. It gleams and swirls, until finally it leaves Yugo in a new drastic change in outfit and Clear Wing's true shining glory back once more.]

[hippocarnival]

[It worked.

Both Yuya and Odd Eyes are filled with immediate relief at seeing the Void's influence purged from Yugo. Yuya hardly waits for the light to him before he rushes forward, reaching for Yugo's arm.] See, I told you! Come on, we have a concert to stop!

[The duel? Not important anymore--they're running low on time as it is, all the happy reunions are going to have to wait until the world is saved.]